Fairbanks is known as the Golden Heart of Alaska. Hiking, biking, fishing, kayaking, and camping are minutes away, and the people are friendly and welcoming. Here are all the reasons why you’ll love a summer job at the Fairbanks Princess Riverside Lodge, which is located on the Chena River in Fairbanks.

Your Next Adventure Starts Here

Fairbanks may have a population under 35,000, but it’s the New York City of northern Alaska. Hundreds of small surrounding towns, settlements, and outposts spider out from Fairbanks and into the Alaskan interior, and all the commerce, government, and culture of the surrounding areas converge in Fairbanks. Fairbanks sits just after Delta Junction, at the very end of the Alaska Highway. It marks the true beginning of the untamed, thinly-populated Alaska wilderness.

It’s the middle of nowhere and the center of everything. And there’s no better time to visit than the summer.

Let the sun shine

Fairbanks is famous for its long, dark, cold winters, but the whole town lights up in the summer time—literally! The shortest day of the year in Fairbanks is December 21st, the winter solstice when the sun is only out in the brief window between 11:00 am and 2:45 pm. After this, the city gains seven minutes of daylight every day until June 21st, the longest day of the year. On this day, there’s almost twenty-two hours of daylight, creating a natural phenomenon called the “midnight sun.”

If you’ve never seen the sun glittering on the water as late as 1 am, it’s hard to imagine, but once you experience it you’ll never forget. Come savor the sunshine with Fairbanks residents for a few brightly-lit months.

Nonstop outdoor opportunities

The best thing about summer-long sunshine? It gives you plenty of daylight hours to spend exploring!

Anywhere you go in Fairbanks, you’re minutes away from outdoor adventures. We recommend traversing the Chena River by kayak or canoe. The river is gentle but wide, and provides a natural corridor into the heart of the surrounding wilderness. Bring binoculars for birdwatching, or pack your tackle to fish from your boat!

Game and wildlife

One of the best things about Alaska is seeing animals up close and personal you may have only seen in cartoons. Beavers, foxes, bears, caribou, and mountain goats all roam the area around Fairbanks. But the real star of the show is the moose—the Fairbanks area is home to 16,000 moose! You’re certain to see one of these huge, strange-looking beasts lumbering by.

You can throw back a cold one at Pike’s Landing Restaurant or one of the local breweries, dance the night away at Fairbanks Ballroom Dance Club, or try your hand at karaoke at the Blue Loon.

Aurora Borealis

One of the main reasons you’ll fall in love with Fairbanks is the Aurora Borealis. It’s considered the best city in the whole state for reliably witnessing the “Northern Lights.” It can be hard to catch a night that’s long and dark enough in the summertime, but if you keep your eyes on the sky during the hours of nightfall you’ll probably catch a glimpse of the swirling, multi-colored streaks of light in the sky.

Summer in Fairbanks is unforgettable. You’ll see things you’ll remember for the rest of your life, and make friends you’ll never forget. Join us at the Fairbanks Princess Riverside Lodge, located right on the Chena River, for the summer job of a lifetime!